Friday I attended a field test of a "Kite Engine.”  It was conducted in an actual field, owned by Chapel Hill’s favorite dairy farm and ice cream shop, Maple View Farm. I recommend this place as a must when you visit Chapel Hill (another must).

WindLift is a budding wind power company with a difference.  Instead of 300 foot towers with giant propellers, CEO Rob Creighton has invented a way to harness the energy of wind pulling a kite – like those used in kite boarding.  You know…

I’m sure you’ve tried it.

Anyway, I’m trying to be of some use to WindLift as they get started.  Since they’re in development stage, and I’m not an engineer, my job was kite tossing and picture taking.

The concept is elegantly simple, and meant to address off-grid applications in developing countries with little maintenance.  In prototype mode, it has a very satisfying mechanical Erector Set aesthetic.  Boyhood memories of beloved contraptions abound.

Today’s experience solidified my keen interest in renewable energy, and gave me an enticing taste of the start of a sea change in the world.  However one may view climate change, watching a beautiful kite sail around above farmland, generating serious juice, is a convincing wordless argument for doing something other than digging up smoky stuff to burn.